US aircraft carrier group enters S. China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

TAIPEI • A US aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has entered the South China Sea to promote "freedom of the seas", the US military said yesterday, at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan have raised concern in Washington.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the strike group entered the South China Sea on Saturday, the same day that Taiwan reported a large incursion of Chinese bombers and fighter jets into its air defence identification zone in the Pratas Islands' vicinity.

The US military said the carrier strike group was in the South China Sea, a large part of which is claimed by China, to conduct routine operations "to ensure freedom of the seas, build partnerships that foster maritime security".

"After sailing through these waters throughout my 30-year career, it's great to be in the South China Sea again, conducting routine operations, promoting freedom of the seas, and reassuring allies and partners," said Rear-Admiral Doug Verissimo, the strike group's commander.

"With two-thirds of the world's trade travelling through this very important region, it is vital that we maintain our presence and continue to promote the rules-based order which has allowed us all to prosper," he said.

The announcement comes just days after Mr Joe Biden was sworn in as US president. Mr Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Mr Antony Blinken, told his Senate confirmation hearing last week that there was "no doubt" China posed the most significant challenge to the US of any nation.

China has repeatedly complained about US Navy ships getting close to Chinese-occupied islands in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is being accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell and USS John Finn.

REUTERS